Shloka 13
Chapter 12: Arjuna’s suppression of the Saṃśaptakas and duel with Aśvatthāmā
Drauṇi
तथा तस्मिन् बले शूरैर्वध्यमाने हतेडपि च | अस्मानभ्याययु: पार्था वृकोदरपुरोगमा:
sañjaya uvāca |
tathā tasmin bale śūraiḥ vadhyamāne hate 'pi ca |
asmān abhyāyayuḥ pārthā vṛkodara-purogamāḥ ||
śara-sambhinna-varmāṇau tāv ubhau bhrātarau raṇe |
sātyakiṃ satya-karmāṇaṃ rājan vivyadhatuḥ śaraiḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: Walaupun bala tentera itu sedang ditebas oleh para wira dan bergelimpangan mati, putera-putera Pṛthā mara menyerbu kami dengan Bhīma (Vṛkodara) di hadapan. Biarpun zirah dua bersaudara itu telah hancur berkecai ditembusi anak panah, mereka tetap—di tengah kancah pertempuran—melukai Sātyaki, yang masyhur kerana setia pada ikrar, dengan memanahnya, wahai Raja.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the grim ethic of battlefield duty: even when forces are collapsing and warriors are wounded, combatants continue out of allegiance and kṣatriya obligation. It also contrasts physical vulnerability (shattered armor) with steadfast resolve (continuing to fight).
As the army is being slaughtered, the Pāṇḍavas surge forward with Bhīma leading. Two brothers—despite their armor being broken by arrows—manage to pierce and wound Sātyaki with their shafts, as Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra.